Scrubber apparatus

ABSTRACT

1,220,186. Treating gases with liquids. GOLD FIELDS MINING &amp; INDUSTRIAL Ltd. 12 March, 1968 [13 March, 1967], No. 12007/68. Heading B1R. Gas to be cleaned from an inlet 22 is directed downwardly onto the upper sloping surfaces of beds 14 and 16 of aggregate arranged as shown in an L-shaped vessel and defining between them a flow passage for the gas to be cleaned the size of which can be varied by vertical movement of the bed 16, water being supplied to the bed 16 by a pipe 29. The position of bed 16 can be adjusted manually or automatically to maintain a desired pressure-drop across the apparatus.

United States Patent Buell Engineering Company, Inc. Lebanon, Pennsylvania a corporation of Delaware [73] Assignee [54] SCRUBBER APPARATUS 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 261/95, 261/96, 261/98; 55/226, 55/233 [51] Int. Cl B01d 47/00; B01f3/04, B0lf5/00 [50] Field of Search 261/94- 99,l1l,(V.S.),1l8;55/223, 233,255,226, 227, 230, 234, 231, 232, 235, 241; 210/512 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 768,404 8/1904 Schutt 55/233X 1,073,621 9/1913 Murray... 261/V.S.UX 1,128,548 2/1915 Sykes 55/223X 1,637,597 8/1927 Ulrici 261/V.S.UX 2,093,866 9/1937 Fasting 261/111 2,754,096 7/1956 Welty, Jr. 261/97 237,542 2/1881 Jones 55/223 2,964,304 12/1960 Rice 261/118 3,182,977 5/1965 Erni 55/241X FOREIGN PATENTS Add. 22.065 11/1920 France 261/95 324,507 9/1920 Germany.... 261/95 501,591 7/1930 Germany.... 210/512 846,093 8/1952 Germany 261/98 Primary Examiner- Ronald R. Weaver Attorney-Teare, Teare & Sammon ABSTRACT: A scrubber apparatus for controlling the flow of and/or for cleansing a gaseous fluid stream including an angularly bent housing which contains a relatively stationary glomerate impingement media and a relatively movable glomerate impingement media which coact to provide a variable orifice region for controlling the flow of the gaseous fluid W51 LADDEN AIR CLEANED AIR stream. A source of liquid is disposed to be introduced in the form of a streamlike spray from the relatively movable glomerate impingement media and through the variable orifice region for impingement upon the relatively stationary glomerate impingement media. The scrubber has a hollow housing with an inlet section and an outlet section each with respective inlet and outlet openings and an L-shaped passageway communicating the openings with one another for transmitting a gaseous fluid stream from the supply source downwardly and outwardly through the passage way. A replaceable glomerate media is disposed in the passage way adjacent the juncture of the inlet section with the outlet section for deflecting the flow of a gaseous fluid stream through the housing. The media includes first rock material disposed in superposed, stacked relation at the bottom adjacent the juncture of the inlet section with the outlet section. A secondhigh density rock material is disposed in super posed, stacked relation in the inlet section and above the first rock material. The second rock material is laterally offset with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the inlet section. A selectively adjustable weirlike support member is mounted in the inlet section and supports the second rock material in the stacked relation for vertical movement toward and away from the first rock material. A fluid pressure unit is operably connected with the support member to move the support member relative to the first rock material so as to provide a selectively adjustable orificelike opening between the first and second rock materials for regulating the velocity of the gaseous fluid stream in the passageway. The first rock material has an exposed surface defining an inclined plane extending downwardly and outwardly in a direction away from the inlet section toward the outlet section. The second rock material has an exposed surface defining an inclined plane which extends perpendicularly to the inclined plane of the first rock material so that the gaseous fluid stream is directed from the second rock material and into impingement with the first rock material. A liquid discharge conduit is connected with the support member for introducing a liquid from a supply source through the second rock material and out into the regionof the orificelikeopening and into engagement with the first rock material. This liquid moisturizes the gaseous fluid stream and imparts a scrubbing action with any contaminants collected on the first rock material from the gaseous fluid stream. The second rock material is disposed on the support member below the inlet opening in the inlet section to provide a bafflelike and abrasive surface to receive and direct the gaseous fluid stream onto the first rock material and out through the outlet opening.

Patented 1, 1970 3,544,088

DUST LADDEN l AIR IO CLEANED AIR FIG.I' 8.

PRESSURE onop 2 CONTROLLER 84 COMPRESSOR v 80 FIG.'3

INVENTOR.

JOHN JAMES SHEEHAN BY 7 ATTORNEYS SC RUBBER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for cleansing a gaseous fluid stream, and more particularly relates to a scrubber apparatus for controlling the flow of a gaseous fluid stream and/or for separating contaminants, such as dust or the like, from a gaseous fluid stream, such as air or the like.

Heretofore, various types of collector devices have been employed for cleansing a gaseous fluid stream, such as a dustladen air. Such devices have generally employed various types of baffle arrangements, but wherein the baffle members were of a generally solid construction. Such construction, however, was not entirely sufficient in preventing the abrasive wear imparted by the severe impingement thereon of the contaminants, such as the dust particles or the like, entrained in the air stream. Consequently, such baffle members had a relatively short wearlife and were expensive to maintain and/or replace. In addition, such prior devices generally required various nozzle-type arrangements for mixing liquid with the air stream. In such arrangements, however, the component parts of the nozzle, particularly the outlet thereof. were exposed to the air stream so as to be easily clogged by the dust particles entrained in the stream. Such clogging of the component parts of the spray system not only required time-consuming and costly maintenance and/or replacement of the parts, but greatly reduced the efficiency of the cleansing operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates the provision of a scrubber apparatus which comprises an angularly bent housing having an inlet and an outlet for the passage therethrough of a gaseous fluid stream, such as dust-laden air, to be cleaned. The housing contains interiorly thereof a relatively stationary glomerate impingement media and another spaced, oppositely disposed glomerate impingement media which is adapted for relative movement with respect to the relatively stationary glomerate impingement media. The glomerate impingement media coact together in a manner so as to provide a variable orifice region therebetween for controlling the flow of the gaseous fluid stream between the inlet and the outlet of the housing. The glomerate impingement media are constructed and arranged to provide a turbulent mixing of the gaseous fluid stream in the region of the variable orifice and provide impingement surfaces for collecting dust or the like entrained in the gaseous fluid stream. A liquid supply source is operably associated with one of the glomerate impingement media and is adapted to flow therethrough and outwardly therefrom in the form of a streamlike spray into the vicinity of the orifice region and onto the other glomerate impingement media. This streamlike spray mixes with and moisturizes the gaseous fluid stream and acts to wash the collected dust from the respective surfaces of the glomerate impingement media. In one form, the invention also contemplates the provision of a pressureresponsive system to automatically control the variable orifice region for maintaining a predetermined flow of the gaseous fluid stream through the housing.

By this arrangement, the present invention provides a highly efficient scrubber apparatus for controlling and/or cleansing a gaseous fluid stream. The apparatus provides a system for automatically controlling the flow of the gaseous fluid stream to be cleaned, and more particularly provides a system wherein a predetermined pressure differential may be automatically maintained between the inlet and the outlet. This arrangement provides a high velocity and turbulent mixing action of the gaseous fluid stream in a relatively localized region for cleansing impingement upon a high surface area, glomerate impingement media. The impingement media is of a readily expendable nature and inexpensive to replace and affords, therefore, and efficient resistance to wear imparted by the impingement thereon of dust particles or the like entrained in the gaseous fluid stream. The invention provides the introduction of a liquid into the region of maximum velocity of the gaseous fluid stream for efficient mixing therewith and for intense scrubbing action on the glomerate impingement media for washing the dust particles or the like therefrom. The liquid is introduced in the form of a streamlike spray by a novel construction and arrangement which prevents any clogging thereof as attendant in heretofore known types of collector devices. In addition, the present invention provides a novel construction of a scrubber apparatus which may be used independently and/or conjunctively as an attachment for another cleaning device, such as a secondary agglomeration and scrubbing device, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Such type of device is described in the copending U.S. Pat. application to John J. Sheehan, Ser. No. 622,535, filed Mar. 13,1967 Now U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,197.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation view partly in section showing the scrubber apparatus made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a generally schematic illustration, partly in section, and on a reduced scale showing the control system for controlling the flow of a gaseous fluid stream through the scrubber apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal section view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated the scrubber apparatus, designated generally at 2, made in accordance with the invention. As shown, the apparatus 2 includes a casing or housing 10 which preferably includes a generally vertically oriented section 10a and generally horizontally oriented section 10!) joined together at generally right angles to one another to provide the reversed, generally L-shaped construction shown. The housing sections 10a and 10b, in the form shown, are of a polygonal, such as rectangular, shape in transverse cross section. It is to be understood, however, that the housing sections may be of other cross-sectional sections, as desired.

The vertical section 1011 includes an inlet duct 22 for introducing a gaseous fluid stream into the housing 10 while the horizontal section 10b includes an outlet duct 24 for discharging the stream from the housing, as shown generally by the arrows. The housing 10 may be made from any suitable material, such as metal or the like. In some cases, it may be preferred to line the interior sidewalls of the housing 10 with a corrosionresistant material (not shown), such as plastic or the like. The housing section 10b may be provided with an outlet pipe 27 for discharging contaminated, such as dirty or dust-laden water from the housing 10. The housing 10 may be mounted on a suitable support 12, as desired.

In accordance with the invention, a glomerate impingement media 14 is disposed in the housing 10 adjacent the juncture between the sections 10a and 10b. Preferably, this glomerate media is comprised of a relatively nonbuoyant, high-density material which provides high surface area for impingement thereon of the gaseous fluid stream. In the form shown, this material is preferably comprised of a plurality of rocks or the like disposed in superposed, stacked relationship. The material is preferably stacked so as to provide a generally right-triangular shape between the confronting sidewalls 11 and 13 of the sections 10a and 10b, respectively. Preferably, the exposed surface of the material, as defined by an inclined plane extending between the sidewalls 11 and 13, is oriented so as to approximate an angle, such as 45. This preferred orientation of the glomerate material provides an efficient impingement surface for collecting and separating contaminants, such as dust or the like entrained in the gaseous fluid stream.

In the form shown, a weir mechanism 16 is disposed in the housing section 10a and provides a support for other glomerate impingement media 18 for holding the same in predetermined spaced relation above the glomerate impingement media 14. This predetermined spaced relationship between the glomerate impingement media 14 and 18 provides a variable passageway or opening 20 therebetween which acts, in effect, as a variable orifice for controlling the flow of the gaseous fluid stream between the inlet duct 22 and the outlet duct 24, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the weir mechanism 16 is constructed and arranged to provide a well or trough construction 28. This construction is comprised of an upstanding back plate 30, a pair of oppositely disposed side plates 32 and 34, a bottom plate 36 and a front plate 38 which extend upwardly from the bottom plate 36. The front plate 38 has a substantial reduced height as compared to the back plate 30 and the side plates 32 and 34 and preferably includes a plurality of serrations 40, which may be disposed in a generally sawtooth arrangement extending transversely between the side plates 32 and 34. The back plate 30 may be mounted on the confronting surface of the sidewall 52 of the section a for relative vertical movement with respect thereto, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The bottom plate 36 provides a support for the glomerate impingement media 18 carried by the weir mechanism 16. This glomerate impingement media is preferably also comprised of a relatively nonbuoyant, high-density material which provides a high surface area, such as rocks or the like. Preferably, the material is stacked in superposed relationship so as to provide a generally right-triangular shape extending between the bottom plate 36 of the weir mechanism 16 and the sidewall 52 of the upper section 100. The exposed surface of the material, as defined by an inclined plane, is preferably disposed at an angle so as to approximate about 45. By this arrangement, the exposed impingement surface of the glomerate media 18 is generally perpendicularly oriented with respect to the exposed surface of the glomerate media 14, thereby to provide a highly efficient impingement action not only on the glomerate media 18, but also upon the glomerate media 14 after the gaseous fluid stream is deflected off the glomerate media 18 in accordance with the invention.

The weir mechanism 16 is provided with a source of liquid cleansing fluid, such as water. In the form shown, the liquid may be provided by a suitable conduit 29 extending through suitable apertures (not shown) provided in the confronting sidewall 52 of the housing 10 and through the back plate 30 of the weir mechanism 16. As best seen in FIG. 1, the liquid supplied by the conduit 29 enters the bottom of the well or trough 28 and through the voids or interstices between the glomerate impingement media 18. The water thus introduced into the trough 28 reaches a certain level after which it flows over the front plate 38 and through the sawtoothlike serrations 40 provided in the plate. By this arrangement, the liquid is discharged from the trough 28 in the form of a series of laterally spaced cascading streams which flow downwardly into a fine spray, as at 26, for impingement upon the glomerate media 14. As best seen in FIG. 1, the liquid 26 from the weir mechanism 16 is introduced into the variable orificelike opening 20 so as to efficiently mix with the gaseous fluid stream in the maximum velocity region defined by the variable distance between the glomerate media 14 and 18. This mixing action takes place in a relatively localized area so as to effectively moisturize the gaseous fluid stream and to achieve an efficient washing of collected contaminants, such as dust or the like, collected by the glomerate impingement media 14. in addition, it will be noted that by introducing the cleansing liquid through the glomerate impingement media 18 that the inlet to the conduit 29 is effectively protected against the ingress of contaminants, such as dust or the like, therein This arrangement effectively prevents any clogging or damage to the liquid supply source.

In the invention, the glomerate impingement media 18 is disposed for movement relative to the glomerate impingement media 14 for varying the orifice opening 20 therebetween. To

this end, the weir mechanism 16 is mounted for generally vertical movement with in the housing section 10a. As best seen in FIG. 4, a pair of oppositely disposed, generally U-shaped channel members 44 and 46 are mounted adjacent the opposed comers of the housing section 10a. The back plate 30 of the weir mechanism 16 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed, outwardly extending flanges 48 and 50 which provide extensions therefrom and which are disposed for sliding engagement within the channel members 44 and 46. The sidewall 52 of the housing section 10a may be provided with an elongated, generally vertically extending slot 54 which is of a length which may be greater than the vertical height of the back plate 30, as seen in FIG. 2. The back plate 30 has a flange 56 attached thereto, such as by suitable weldments or the like, which is disposed through the slot 54. A generally U-shaped yoke member 58 is attached to the flange 56 by suitable fasteners, such as bolts 60 and 62. A fluid actuated piston 63 may be mounted exteriorly on the sidewall 52 of the housing section 10a above the terminal end of the slot 54 by suitable fasteners, such as bolts 64 and 66. A piston rod 68 extends from the cylinder 63 and is operably connected at its free end to the yoke member 58 by means of a cross-pin 70 which extends horizontally through an eye hole 72 provided at the terminal end of the piston rod 68. The cross-pin 70 may be secured in position by suitable fasteners, such as by nut 74. By this arrangement, upon extension of the piston rod 68 the weir mechanism 16 mounting the glomerate impingement media 18 is caused to move vertically downwardly in the general direction toward the glomerate impingement media 14 and vice versa upon retraction of the piston rod 68 for varying the orifice opening 20, as aforesaid. It is to be understood, however, that the weir mechanism 16 could be operated by other type of electrical, mechanical, or electromechanical arrangements or manually, as desired.

By this arrangement, an effective pressure drop or differential may be imparted to the gaseous fluid stream between the inlet duct 22 and the outlet duct 24. For example, a pressure drop in the range between about 8 inches to 35 inches W.G. may be maintained between the inlet duct 22 and the outlet duct 24 in accordance with the invention. This pressure drop is effectively localized in the region of the orifice opening 20 for effectively increasing the velocity of the gaseous fluid stream through the opening so as to create a turbulent mixing action of the liquid introduced via conduit 29 with the flow of the gaseous fluid stream. Accordingly, by this arrangement the pressure drop between the inlet duct 22 and the outlet duct 24 can be readily increased or decreased to achieve an optimum mixing action between the fluid components and/or any contaminants, such as dust or the like, entrained therein. For example, the apparatus of the invention may be used as a primary scrubber to achieve an intermediate pressure-drop for introducing the gaseous fluid stream into another cleaning apparatus to achieve a secondary operation, as desired.

in accordance with the invention, the flow of the gaseous fluid stream between the inlet duct 22 and the outlet duct 24 may be automatically controlled in response to pressure variations within the housing 10. in one form, this may be achieved by providing a predetermined pressure level which acts as a standard for automatically adjusting pressure variations within the housing 10 by controlling the relative size of the orifice opening 20. One form of control system contemplated by the invention is diagrammatically illustrated generally at 81 in FIG. 3. As shown, the system includes a pressure-responsive device 80, such as a manometer, which may be disposed adjacent the inlet duct 22 and another such pressure-responsive device 82 disposed adjacent the outlet duct 24. The pressureresponsive devices and 82 may be connected by conduits 84 and 86 to a controller 88, such as a pressure-drop controller Minneapolis-Honeywell, Model Number 22 FIG 2-93, which in turn is connected to a compressor via conduit 91. By this arrangement, the controller 88 automatically varies the output from the compressor 90 by suitable means, such as electrical means known in the art, in response to any pressure drop or differential between the inlet duct 22 and the outlet duct 24. As shown, the outlet pressure from the compressor 90 is transmitted to the working side 94 of a fluid pressure cylinder 95 via a conduit 92. The other side of the cylinder 95 so provided with a resilient means 96, such as a compression spring or the like, for biasing the piston rod 97 against the inlet pressure from the compressor 90. In the form shown, the piston rod 97 is operably connected to the weir mechanism 16 in the manner as aforementioned with respect to the description of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 for controlling the size of the orifice opening 20. By this arrangement, extension and contraction of the piston rod 97, in the form shown, depends upon the inlet pressure from the compressor 90 as compared to the opposed biasing force afforded by the resilient means 96. Accordingly, when the output from the compressor 90 is greater than this biasing force, the piston rod 97 will be extended so as to move the weir mechanism 16 which mounts the glomerate impingement media 18 in a generally vertical downward direction for reducing the size of the orifice opening 20 and vice versa upon a reduction in outlet pressure from the compressor 90 for increasing the size of the orifice opening 20.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the housing section a may be provided adjacent its upper end with an access door 92. As shown, the door may be provided by means of a plate 93 detachably connected to the sidewall 11 of the housing 10 by means of suitable fasteners, such as bolts 96 and 98. The door 92 is conveniently disposed above the glomerate impingement media 14 and 18 so as to enable the operator to readily remove and/or replace the media after usage thereof.

In a typical operation of the scrubber apparatus, a gaseous fluid stream, such as dust-laden air or the like, is introduced generally vertically downwardly through the inlet duct 22 and into impinging engagement with the inclined surface presented by the glomerate impingement media 18. This impingement provides an initial cleansing action on the dustladen air so as to remove portions of the dust entrained therein. The air containing remaining entrained dust is deflected angularly downwardly in a direction toward the other angularly oppositely disposed glomerate impingement media 14. Simultaneously with this deflection, liquid is caused to overflow through the serrations 40 in the weir plate 38 in the form of a series of laterally spaced streams so as to provide a fine spray in the region of the orifice opening 20. This liquid, due to the increased velocity of the air through the orifice opening 20, turbulently mixes with and moisturizes the dustladen air passing through the opening 20. The dust entrained in the moisturized air is collected on the exposed surfaces presented by the glomerate impingement media 14 and is separated therefrom and carried to the bottom of the housing section 10b. This dirty or dust-laden water may then be discharged from the system via'pipe 27. The relatively clean air is deflected off of the a'ngularly disposed surface of the glomerate impingement media 14 in a generally horizontal direction and outwardly through the outlet duct 24.

In the embodiment shown, it is preferred that the glomerate impingement media 14 and 18 be comprised of a high density material, such as granite, marble or the like. Preferably, the size of the media is sufficient to pass through a screen having 3-inch openings, but held on a screen having 2z-inch openings. The impingement media 14 may be held in place by an angle attached to section 10b.

As a specific example, the housing sections 10a and 10b may have a polygonal, such as square shape, in transverse cross section with a dimension of 9 inches square. The housing may have an overall height of about 26 inches with an overall width of about 1 1 inches. The section 10a may have a height of about 15 inches.

in the embodiment shown, a gaseous fluid stream may be introduced through the inlet duct 22 at a rate of about 4,800 cubic feet per minute. When the weir mechanism 16 is vertically oriented so that the outer bottom edge of the plate 36 is spaced about 3% inches from the opposed confronting surface of the impingement media 14, the velocity of the gaseous fluid stream passing through the orifice opening 20 is approximately 10,000 feet per minute. The temperature of the incoming gas, as at point 100, is about l, 400 F. and that of the outgoing gas, as at point 102, is about 150 F., with the pressure drop between the inlet duct 22 and the outlet duct 24 being about 8 inches W.G. By this arrangement, the scrubber apparatus of the present invention is enabled to quench and scrub gas at a temperature of l,400 F. down to a saturation temperature of 150 F. in a lineal distance of approximately 18 inches. Such distance being measured vertically downwardly from point in section 10a of the housing 10 and through the orifice opening 20, as seen in FIG. 1.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expression of excluding any equivalence of any of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim: v

1. A scrubber apparatus for use in controlling and cleaning a gaseous fluid stream from a supply source comprising:

a hollow housing having an inlet section and an outlet section each with respective inlet and outlet openings and an L-shaped passageway communicating said openings with one another for transmitting a gaseous fluid stream from said supply source downwardly and outwardly through said passageway;

a replaceable glomerate impingement means media disposed in said passageway adjacent the juncture of said inlet section with said outlet section deflecting the flow of a gaseous fluid stream through said housing;

said impingement media including a first high density rock material disposed in superposed, stacked relation at the bottom adjacent the juncture of said inlet section with said outlet section;

a second high density rock material disposed in superposed, stacked relation in said inlet section and above said first rock material, and being laterally offset with respect to the longitudinal central axis of said inlet section;

a selectively adjustable weirlike support member mounted in said inlet section and supporting said second rock material in said stacked relation for vertical movement toward and away'from said first rock material;

power means operably associated with said support member to move the same relative to said first rock material so as to provide a selectively adjustable orificelike opening between said first and second rock materials for regulating the velocity, of the gaseous fluid stream in said passageway;

said first rock material having an exposed surface defining an inclined plane extending downwardly and outwardly in a direction away from said inlet section toward said outlet section;

said second rock material having an exposed surface defining an inclined plane which extends perpendicularly to the inclined plane of said first rock material so that said gaseous fluid stream is directed from said second rock material and into impingement with said first rock material;

a liquid discharge means operably associate with said support member for introducing a liquid from a supply source through said second rock material and out into the region of said orificelike opening and into engagement with said first rock material to moisturize said gaseous fluid stream and for imparting a scrubbing action with any contaminants collected on said first rock material from said gaseous fluid stream; and

said second rock material disposed on said support member below the inlet opening in said inlet section to provide a bafflelike and abrasive surface to receive and direct said gaseous fluid stream onto said first rock material and out through said outlet opening.

2. A scrubber apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inclined surface of said first rock material is disposed at an angle of 40 with respect to the longitudinal central axis of said inlet section.

3. A scrubber apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including:

a pressure sensitive control said power means; and said control means being disposed in the path of said gaseous fluid stream adjacent said inlet and outlet openings for sensing any pressure variation therebetween for automatically controlling the size of said orificelike opening by relative adjustment of the second rock material carried by said support member. I p

4. A scrubber apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said weirlike support member comprises a troughlike construction including a plurality of sawtooth serrations extending transversely thereof to deliver said liquid in the form of a series of spaced streams downwardly into said passageway for mixing with said gaseous fluid stream.

means operably associated with 5. A scrubber apparatus in accordance with claim '1,

wherein: v l

said inlet section extends vertically downwardly; said outlet section extends horizontally from saidinlet section; and the inclined plane of said first rock material extending at an angle of 45 with respectto'the longitudinal central axis of said inlet section. 6. A scrubber apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: 1

said power means includes afluid pressure unit operably attached to said support member for vertical movement toward and away from said first rock' material; andv pressure responsive means disposed in said passageway adjacent said inlet and outlet openings and operably connected to said fluid pressure unit for controlling actuation of said unit in response to pressure variations between said inlet and outlet openings. 

